The gym of UFC hall of famer Matt Hughes is
now under new ownership, as St. Louis-based trainer and fighter
Jesse
Finney (Pictured) has purchased the facility. The H.I.T. Squad
facility -- now known as Finney’s H.I.T. Squad -- is based out of
Granite City, Ill. The gym was founded by Hughes when he left
Miletich Fighting Systems in 2007.

“We are very excited about working with Matt Hughes, Mark Fiore and
Kyle
Watson. The H.I.T. Squad is already considered one of the top
MMA gyms in the world,” Finney said in a release. “Our goal is to
make it the top MMA gym. We have already begun making improvements
to both training facilities, improvements that will ultimately
generate bigger and better opportunities for our fighters as we
evolve.”

Finney’s H.I.T. Squad now sports a full-sized practice cage.
According to the release, the gym has also begun using the Shamrock
Fighter Development System, a means of bringing along local
fighters by gradually increasing a fighter’s level of competition.
Hughes will reportedly stay on at the facility to train, as will
the rest of the training staff.

“I fully support the change in ownership and look forward to
working with Finney and his team. This is a positive change that
will generate new opportunities for the gym and make the H.I.T
Squad brand even stronger,” said Fiore. “The new build-out has
added value to the facility, and our stable of fighters has already
increased from 40 to 80. We are all very excited about the
direction the gym is going.”

A two-time veteran of Strikeforce competition, Finney also owns
Finney’s MMA, his first gym based out of St. Louis. The
welterweight began his pro career in 2007, rattling off six
straight victories before suffering the first and only defeat of
his career to UFC veteran Josh Neer in
August.

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